Failed and successful vehicle thefts keep Revelstoke RCMP busy Friday

Car thieves kept Revelstoke RCMP busy on Friday, and the end result was one arrest in the Pharmasave parking lot Friday afternoon.

Police were called to their first incident at around 1 a.m., when they were alerted to a suspicious man attempting to steal an older model truck on the 1400 block of Victoria Road. RCMP responded immediately, but the man fled the area on foot before they arrived.

A few minutes later, police saw a suspicious truck heading westbound on Victoria Road. They tried to stop the suspect, but they fled on the Trans-Canada Highway towards Sicamous.

Police then learned the burgundy 2004 Ford truck was stolen from the 1100 block of Second Street West. The culprit is believed to a white male about 40 years old.

Later that morning, RCMP found a white Ford truck with a stolen licence plate near Wales Street; both were from Calgary. Police believe the man who stole that vehicle dumped it in Revelstoke and made off with the burgundy vehicle.

Finally, at around noon, police were called to the Pharmasave parking lot after witnesses observed suspicious activity. Several people told the Review that two people had slept in a Ford F250 overnight.

The truck had been stolen from Vermillion, Alta., police said.

An 18-year-old woman and 21-year-old male, both from Alberta were arrested and detained while police searched the vehicle.

Three RCMP officers attended the scene, including one who showed up in an unmarked vehicle. According to witnesses, the police had their guns drawn when they made the arrests.

The investigation revealed the man was alleged to have attempted to steal two trucks early Thursday morning. He was arrested and charged with two counts of mischief to property and one count of possession of stolen property. He is scheduled to appear in Revelstoke court on October 7.

The woman was released without charge.

Anyone with knowledge about any of these incidents is asked to call the Revelstoke RCMP at 250-837-5255 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.